By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, reported by Chen Guanxin
In recent years, Houtong Cat Village has drawn increasing attention from both domestic and international tourists, becoming a must-visit destination for cat lovers and photography enthusiasts. The 319 Cat Lovers Association, which has long been promoting a culture of harmonious coexistence between humans and cats in Houtong, will hold the second Houtong Cat Lantern Blessing Festival this year and tomorrow (September 7 and 8) from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM in front of Houtong Railway Station. The event not only invites master artisans to create a giant 150 cm tall cat lantern but also features a charity fun fair where participants can paint lanterns for blessings. This year, a nationwide unique Cat Blessing Bookmark Platform Ticket is being launched. In collaboration with the New Taipei City Veterinary Medical Association, an on-site quiz will promote health education, and a total of 1,600 cat bookmark platform tickets will be given away over the two days.
Want to get these adorable cat bookmark platform tickets? Head to Houtong to join the Cat Lantern Blessing Festival. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)
The 2013 Cat Lantern Blessing Festival centers around the themes of “Environmental Protection, Care for Life, and Artistic Cultural Creativity.” This year’s cat-head main lantern was created by Taiwanese arts and crafts aesthetics teacher Chen Gaoming, who wove a 150 cm high and 200 cm wide large cat head using “bamboo material,” combining environmental awareness with the image of cats as the creative concept. The event also invited various local associations in Houtong to participate, promoting local culture and eco-conservation in Houtong and Sandiaoling, while also showcasing painted cat lantern artworks by multiple artists. These pieces combine artistic representations of feline imagery with local culture, jointly enhancing the community's distinctive value.
To advocate the concept of caring for life, the organizers invited ten illustrators to use their creativity to design various styles of cat illustration standing boards that also impart correct pet care and epidemic prevention tips. The cute cat standing boards scattered across Houtong Cat Bridge, the train station, and the square have also created a new highlight in Houtong that blends artistic cultural creativity with health education. The participating artists include: catophilia, PEPE-san, Yu Shuyu, Li Hongxiang, Li Xiaoyi, Lin Zongfan, Chen Youling, Shimizu Sakito, Meow Yi, and Cat Little P.
With the hope of promoting proper pet care and epidemic prevention awareness, the event also includes a quiz hosted by the New Taipei City Veterinary Medical Association to spread health education. Participants who answer correctly can receive one limited-edition cat bookmark platform ticket printed by Taiwan Railways, with 800 available each day until they run out, starting at 10:30 AM. On September 7, the “Cat Bridge Commemorative Edition” will be given out, and on September 8, the “Sanfu Cat Commemorative Edition.” Additionally, Houtong Railway Station will start selling 1,000 sets of the same limited-edition commemorative platform tickets at 12:00 PM on the day, with a limit of one set per person.
● Further Reading:
A Day Trip to Banqiao: A Blend of Nostalgia and Local Cuisine
http://goo.gl/E5OqeN